Electrode structure for discharge devices



March 24, 1931. KRAMER 1,797,958

ELECTRODE STRUCTURE FOR DISCHARGE DEVICES Filed Oct. 27, 1923 lnvenpor- Chr'i smiem Kramer;

His Abborneaand thermal insula Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES N? ;0FEif-E CHRISTIAN KRAMER, or PANKOW, GERMANY, 'AssIeNoR T0 GENERAL RLEor ro con- PANY, A ooRroRArron onnnw YO K ELECTRODE STRUCTURE FOR'DISCHARGE DEVICES Application filed October 27, 1923, Serial No. 671,273, and-in. GermanyJ'anuary 9, 1923.

The present invention relates to the construction of electrodes for electric discharge devices, as for example, vapor rectlfiers.

The cooling of the anodes of high poweredv rectifiers, particularly mercury arc rectifiers --high -temperatures,.the outer anode head is; present the problem of dissipating large amounts of heat while at the same time main--- taining the anodes at a high temperature,-

preferably at red heat, in order to secure the. best operation. Water cooling readily fil fills the first condition, but not the second,

and besides has the disadvantage of electrically grounding the anodes. While oil coolmg does not have the latter disadvantage, it-

is capable of maintaining only a slightly hi her temperature.

In accordance with my invention I have provided an anode structure which secures the advantage of an efiicient, though conducting cooling fluid, such as water, while at the same time securing the advantage of an ele vated electrode temperature but avoiding grounding of the electrodes. This improve- .may then be maintained cool,as a thin cooling fluid to a chamber ll. surroundingthe 1 As an efiective heat exchangebetween the Inner and outer wall members occurs only at 'the super-imposed flange 13, which is incontact-with' the cooling fiuld.

- In orderthat the heated anode may, not-be oxidized-where it comes in contact withthe air, it is preferably protected by, a suitable surface treatment, for example, by being alloyed-with alnminumbr it may be plated with, a; material which is ,capable of withment is obtained by providing an electrical ting layer between an in ternal cooling device and an exterior heated portion of the anode. This insulating layer conveniently consists of air, or other gas.

The accompanying drawing is a front elevation partly in section of a mercury arc rectifier embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing the main receptacle 1 is provided with two anodes but one of which is shown in section at 2 pro j ecting into a tubular anode is welded or otherwise joined to the ceptacle. The anode 2 is insulated from the flange a of the anode chamber by an insulator 5. Projecting into the hollow anode but sepmain rearated therefrom is a hollow cooling device- 9. A tube 10 discharges the water, or other chamber 3 which standing a high temperature.

The heated anode also.may be constructed of two-layers so proportioned-and arranged that the inner walldoes not become highly heated even though theouter wall is at a tempenatureof incandescence.

The mercury cidental parts of a mercury vapor rectifier have not been shown for the sake of simplicity, but it is to be understood that the de-a. scribed anode may be used in any well known construction and is particularly suitable for high powered rectifiers. 1

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. A device provided with an anode, means for cooperating therewith to operate a vapor arc,'means for cooling the interior of said anode and a heat insulating layer located between said cooled interior and the arc re-" ceiving surface of said anode. 2. A high powered mercury vapor rectifier containing anodes consisting of external and internal members which are separated from each other in part by an air space and in part .by solid insulation, means for supplying a cooling fluid to said internal member and means cooperatlng with said external member to operate an electric arc.

3. An electrode structure comprising an i cathode and some other inexternal current-conducting member and an internal member, said external member constituting the arc-receiving member of said structure, said members being provided with opposed surfaces separated a substantially constant distance rom each other by a layer consisting of electrically and thermally poor conducting material, and means for directing a cooling fluid in contact with the internal member. V

4. An electrode structure comprising an external current-conducting member and an internal member, said external member constitutingthe are receiving member of said structure, said members being separated from each other by a chamber. containing an electrically and thermally poor conducting material, and means for directing cooling fluid in contact with the internal member.

5. An electrode structure having an outer current-conducting wall and an inner wall, said outer wall constituting the arc-receiving member of said structure, said walls being spaced apart and of substantially the same contour, electrical insulating material located between said walls, and means ror directing a cooling fluid in contact with the inner wall.

6. An electrodestructure comprising an external current-conducting member and an internal member, said external member constituting the arc-receiving member of said structure, said members being provided with opposed surfaces substantially parallel with one another and insulated from one another by means, comprising a layer of electrically and thermally poor conducting material, and

means for directing a cooling fluid in contact with the internal member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of October, 1923.

GHRI STIAN KRAMER. 

